Forgive me for sounding stupid, but

melcookson
melcookson Posts: 146 Member
in Introduce Yourself
I'm currently doing Weightwatchers, but my weight has stayed the same for the past 6 months so its time to try something different.
MFP has recommended that I eat 1200 calories a day, so do I aim to eat LESS than this?! I'm confused!
Also, please friend request, I need all the help I can get!
I started at 144 lbs, I'm currently 125, I'm 5 ft tall and would like to lose at least another 10lbs x

Replies

  • gramacanada
    gramacanada Posts: 557 Member
    Eat what MFP suggests. It is almost impossible to get proper nutrition eating below 1200.
  • this_time_nextyear
    this_time_nextyear Posts: 53
    I dont think MFP ever recommends you eat less than 1200 calories so i imagine that is what they are aiming for you eating :)
  • markaconklin
    markaconklin Posts: 37 Member
    When your caloric intake isn't enough for the physical expenditure you put out, it causes the body to become catabolic, which means theres not enough nutrition so your body consumes muscle to feed itself. NOT GOOD!!! So make sure to eat enough and when your activity level increase so generally should your caloric intake. Msg me if you want to find some study points:smile:
  • CherokeeBabe
    CherokeeBabe Posts: 1,704 Member
    Never less than 1200, the healthier/less harsh route is to go with your TDEE - 20%, gives you a roughly 500 calorie deficit per day (1lb a week weight loss average)
  • Donnarose82
    Donnarose82 Posts: 71
    Read this : http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/717565-in-place-of-a-road-map
  • melcookson
    melcookson Posts: 146 Member
    Thanks everyone :)
    I've just left Weightwatchers so I'm used to eating "unlimited" fruit and veg, so will have to start counting cals in those which will take a bit of getting used to again.
  • Tanja_CHH
    Tanja_CHH Posts: 216 Member
    For only 10lbs left to lose you should aim to only loose about 0.5 pounds a week. Set this as your goal. And on top of that eat ALL your exercise calories back.
  • CodyBearsMom
    CodyBearsMom Posts: 3 Member
    Your body will eventually lose or keep those extra pounds. I agree with the app - never fall below 1200 calories as then you are asking for more trouble. What people do not realize is by going lower, the heart and kidneys take a blow. Anorexics die from heart attacks - their body in starvation mode starts to attack the heart which is a muscle. Maybe ask yourself why you feel that you need to lose ten more pounds? Is it because it was what you weighed before having kids or becoming older? I learned a long time ago that people who were heavy most of their life have "forever" fat cells - they never leave our bodies, but they shrink and hide until we give in to the urges or become less motivated in the realm of exercise. The only way to remove them permanently is surgery, often quite expensive and emotionally difficult. I'd love to add you as a friend so please do look for my request. If you're not interested, good luck with your journey in life. :)
  • Topsking2010
    Topsking2010 Posts: 2,245 Member
    Bump
  • sandradev1
    sandradev1 Posts: 786 Member
    For only 10lbs left to lose you should aim to only loose about 0.5 pounds a week. Set this as your goal. And on top of that eat ALL your exercise calories back.



    definitely ^^^^THIS^^^^ any steeper deficit than this will stall your weight loss. Also, if you don't do it now, incorporate strength training into your routine as it will help to retain your muscles and improve the end result of how your body actually looks at target weight.
  • LauraThirty
    LauraThirty Posts: 74
    I agree completely. With so little to lose (although it does't feel like a little I'm sure!) and with your body already at a plateau, I would definitely suggest setting MFP to a 1lb a week loss as a maximum. I would actually go for half a pound. I bet you'll be suprised with the loss you actually acheive. I know it's always a case of "different strokes", but for me, I lost the first few lbs on 1200 cals, then plateaued for months. It was de-motivating (and I was H.U.N.G.R.Y!) as soon as I moved to maintenance, and started eating back my exercise calories I started losing again. The feeling of eating a fair amount and not being hungry, but watching the scales move in the right direction at the same time is a pretty good feeling :)

    I would also eat back all exercise calories as said the wise man above. Keep moving as much as possible too, stay on your feet and it'll shift in no time Good luck xx
  • melcookson
    melcookson Posts: 146 Member
    Many thanks for all the help folks, I need to put some time aside to do some reading around the site and some meal planning, I've gotten into a ready meal rut and should really get back to basics. Happy to meet you all, will appreciate advice x
  • Freshstart07
    Freshstart07 Posts: 12 Member
    No the problem is that if cut to many calories then you will lose muscle you may achieve your goal of the 10 lbs. but you won' t look and feel the way you want to. You are definitely on a plateau as am I but remember diet is only 80% of the formula. If your exercise plan is stagnant change it. If you only walk run a little you don't have to become a marathon person but just getting your body of of its current comfort zone would be a good thing.
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    For only 10lbs left to lose you should aim to only loose about 0.5 pounds a week. Set this as your goal. And on top of that eat ALL your exercise calories back.


    This and everyone who's agreed with it.
  • Poetic_Photography
    Poetic_Photography Posts: 138
    I also did WW with some success, but then also stopped losing weight & found myself here. The calorie counting is definitely a change, but after a few weeks you're probably going to find it easier (the food database on here is far more comprehensive than WW's).

    I would follow the MFP calorie guidelines & eat back your calories earned from exercise (just as you eat back activity points in WW) :smile: Congrats on your weightloss so far!!
  • jbbrannon
    jbbrannon Posts: 167 Member
    You can add me as a myfitnesspal friend. :smile:
  • billsica
    billsica Posts: 4,741 Member
    no no no no no no no no no no no!!!

    First you don't need weight watchers. I see your goal is 104 pounds. 104 is not a good weight.

    reset your mpf goal to only loose .5 or 1lbs a week. If you set it to 2 lbs per week, you pretty much get 1200.
    If your mfp calorie number is green, EAT!

    Lift heavy. <
    THIS
  • stitchtastic
    stitchtastic Posts: 182
    Hi.I just started on MFP last week,and i've lost 3lb,so it does work!
    I always eat under the calorie allowance,and i think many more do the same,but if you excercise regulary(as i'm trying to do more now),you can eat more,as it gives you more calories to "eat into".
    You sound about the same as me.I'm 5ft 2,and weigh 140lb now after losing the 3 last week.Hope you like it here.I love it,and will send you a friend request now.
  • watchthis1970
    watchthis1970 Posts: 31 Member
    I have been doing WW for awhile, I never seemed to eat all the points that they said I needed, I have a lot of weight to lose and so my point level was always pretty high. I was sort of like you, looking for something new. I have continued my WW membership, but have been tracking calories and WW points every day for the past month. I have only gone over calories I believe twice in a month and they were christmas parties, but I don't think I have eaten all my points other than maybe three times in the month. Add to that we started exercising at least three times this month as well.

    All said I have seen the scale move consistently for the past month! I was never anywhere near my points....

    Eat the calories it says to eat, eat the majority of your exercise calories back. and GOOD LUCK!! It Works!!
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    I'm currently doing Weightwatchers, but my weight has stayed the same for the past 6 months so its time to try something different.
    MFP has recommended that I eat 1200 calories a day, so do I aim to eat LESS than this?! I'm confused!
    Also, please friend request, I need all the help I can get!
    I started at 144 lbs, I'm currently 125, I'm 5 ft tall and would like to lose at least another 10lbs x

    No...it is a goal...it is something to be achieved. Also, if you exercise, MFP intends for you to eat back your exercise calories as their is a substantial caloric deficit from your maintenance with 1,200 calories. You are to, at minimum, net to the 1,200 calories.
  • HatherM
    HatherM Posts: 404 Member
    If you are hitting a wall with weightloss then shake things up never go below 1200 cals.

    Try eating different foods or smaller portions more often - Shake up your exercise, your body gets used to one kind of exercise, so try somthing different.

    Good luck with losing that last bit of weight.
    Feel free to add me
  • GurleyGirl524
    GurleyGirl524 Posts: 578 Member
    fruits and veggies and great, but the right kinds. I have never done WW, but I know a lot of people who have. I think it has drawbacks. It basically gives you "free" foods. Well a lot of those free foods are loaded with carbs, which turn to sugar, which turn to fat. Balance those carbs. Make sure the fruits and veggies you are eating are low GI and eat a recommended serving. Eat at least 1200 calories a day. Whenever I stall on 1200 I find bumping up to 1400 will get the scale moving again. I am also currently carb cycling which is really working well. A few days of low carbs followed by a few days of higher carbs. You will find what works for you.
  • sugarfree123
    sugarfree123 Posts: 82 Member
    As the others said, don't starve yourself. It took me over a year to lose my "last 10 lbs" You have to exercise, cardio and weight lifting are required. If you don't exercise, you will discover that you are skinny fat. = skinny but flabby. Being fit and muscular will always look better than being skinny. Don't pay much attention to the scale. I saw a HOT looking young lady that was 5ft 9 inches and weighted 190 lbs. She was not a body builder, she was just fit. The guys were drooling!
  • TrishLG
    TrishLG Posts: 173 Member
    From your pic, it looks as if you are at a good goal for you. You really should not shoot for the gaunt look. Do you really want your boobs to disappear? Just keep eating healthy. If there is a particular area of your body that needs work, try spot exercises, like for the thighs or upper arms. Then look for muscle definition, not size or total body weight.
    Probably if you have been exercising too, you have exchanged fat for muscle, so you look better.
    Give it a rest. You look great. Pat yourself on the back and celebrate.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    Hi.I just started on MFP last week,and i've lost 3lb,so it does work!
    I always eat under the calorie allowance,and i think many more do the same,but if you excercise regulary(as i'm trying to do more now),you can eat more,as it gives you more calories to "eat into".
    You sound about the same as me.I'm 5ft 2,and weigh 140lb now after losing the 3 last week.Hope you like it here.I love it,and will send you a friend request now.

    You are doing it wrong then. MFP gives you a calorie goal...it is a goal...it is something to be achieved, not undershot. Netting below that number will cause you all kinds of problems in the long run, the least of which will be metabolic stall and a plateau. For most, 1,200 calories is below BMR...you should really net to your BMR, but certainly do not net under 1,200 calories. Your BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate) is the rate at which your body burns calories just making your organs function and keeping you breathing when you're in a coma. If you're not in a coma you should be eating more than your BMR.

    You will lose quickly the way you are going, but not safe and not healthy loss...you will lose more lean body mass and like I said, you will plateau out in pretty short order.
  • devrinator
    devrinator Posts: 79 Member
    I know that generally, 1200 calories is a low goal, but at 5', might that actually be realistic? Most calculators say I need to eat around 1500 to 1600 to maintain 135 lbs at 5'4, but that's for my age (I'm nowhere near there yet). If she is eating 1200 calories, then she should have a 400 calorie deficit per day, provided she is somewhat active. So, at 1200 calories a day, she's losing less than a pound a week (which should be good), but with body weight fluctuations and all, it may appear she's not losing much at all.
  • melcookson
    melcookson Posts: 146 Member
    Thanks guys, you've all been so helpful.
    Like I said, I need to do some research into MFP.
    I'm going to hold my hands up now and tell you all that I don't do any exercise, it scares the hell out of me, so aside from my job, which I'm on my feet a fair bit for, I'm rather inactive. Exercise gives me nightmares, I don't mind admitting it, I've tried all sorts in the past but, Eurgh! In England our weather isn't particularly great for outdoors exercise, but I definitely will try and walk a lot more. Gyms are so expensive here so wanted to avoid that if possible.
    Thankyou all for being so informative and supportive, my husband and I are actually visiting the States on holiday in the Summer and CAN'T WAIT!!! Xxx

Categories